Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Florida City

This review is long overdue, as my visit this review pertains to took place 5 months ago, in April 2023.

I am a fan of Cracker Barrel, and have been to numerous locations throughout Florida. I enjoy the food and the "Old Country Store" at the front of the building, including the porch chairs and benches outside.

This visit, however, was a terrible one, to say the least, for two key reasons: 1) the backdoor not staying closed and creating a heat and security issue, and ultimately an uncomfortable and miserable dining experience; 1) the General Manager, Rudy.

The FIRST reason: we were seated at a table right next to the emergency exit door at the back of the restaurant. The back door would not latch closed and nor was any effort given to ensure it would stay shut. Outside servers and food runners would use this door to go in and out, and make no effort to ensure to keep the door as closed as possible. Patrons of the restaurant would exit this door and do the same in making sure the door would not stay closed. My table, as well as the two other tables seated right by this door would take turns closing the door as it would swing open. It was hot as heck outside, and there were small children in all three tables. All three tables complained to our servers, who directed us to the General Manager, Rudy.

Cue in the SECOND reason: General Manager, Rudy. He lives up to his name, as he seemed incompetent to handle the situation properly and was rude to all three tables when presented with the complaints. He simply said: "the door is broken and we have not had the ability to get someone here to fix it." As per the conversation I had with him, I mentioned a few things, such as "this is a security risk" in which he smirked the reply "the front door is also a security risk", in which I had to fire back that this section has children, purses, bags, and other things that can be an easy grab and go, amongst other things, unlike the front door, and I proceeded to tell him he was being a smart @$$ and not much of a General Manager. Another thing I mentioned was the heat and he said he could not do anything about that. I told him he can instruct his staff to ensure the door is closed as much as possible with each entry/exit, as opposed to the patrons at the corner tables having to do so themselves. Ultimately, he did nothing to assist the situation. He is/was a General Manager that should not be and did nothing to offer solutions or accommodations. A terrible GM. He is the reason the service stars were dragged lower than 4 or 5 and the atmosphere stars were 1 (along with the door situation).

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I will say this: The whole visit was not terrible, as our server, Lisa, was fantastic in her service to us and comforting of the situation. She deserves kudos for her efforts, hospitality, attention to us as patrons, food ordering, and other general server details. Our food runner was also very compassionate and wonderful with us. I wish I knew his name, but he also deserves kudos. These two are the ONLY reason the service stars were more than 1 or 2 on the review.

The food, as well, was amazing. You can never go wrong with Cracker Barrel food, at least according to me and my family.

I hope this review helps. This may have been a one time incident, or may have happened numerous times to others. I am only writing of this experience...

Cracker Barrel has been one of my all time favorites for 30 years. I took my fiance to her first 2 years ago and she loves the atmosphere and experience. I love it because it is something you can count on to always be the same no matter what location you choose. This visit occurred on a Monday around 2pm and was not busy. There was less than a 3rd of the tables filled when we arrived and less than that when we left..

Regretfully I could not bring myself to give this location 5 stars. Service and food lost 2 stars at this location. Service was lacking everywhere, and the food was smaller, bottom of the pan portions. I worked for a Cracker Barrel in Texas so I know the routines and why everything is the same from store to store. Each part of the decor and service is specifically designed for the customer to experience and when multiple fail you might as well go eat at a waffle house.

The host who sat us was disinterested. No warm welcome greeting, no smile, he just stared at my fiance and I when we walked up. "2? This way." is all he said to us.

The server did not touch the table to let us know she would be right with us for 6 minutes. When she did it was an odd "what can I get you to drink" intro. No hello, no name, no I will be taking care of you today. Just like the host it was cold and disconnected. Meals arrived and the sirloin was undercooked, hash brown casserole was half portion, and the eggs looked like they sat under the lamps long enough to turn over easy to over medium, no biscuits and gravy, we were halfway through our meal when when dropped off a basket with 2 biscuits and 2 cornbred. The waitress did not check in on our meals, no table touch to check how the food was prepared . The next time we saw her was to receive the bill.

The cashier was young but that is no excuse for showing irritation to questions and browsing. Our favorite part of the experience is to look through the shop at the front and buy like kids and get candy and "stuff". My favorite is the ginger snaps and they are always behind the cashier on the shelf. From store to store they change the shelf but it is always up by the cashier. When I asked the cashier he just said I don't know. I stood there staring at him dumbfounded. His coworker showed the same zero * to give attitude. The child like wonder within me died a bit as I was forced to "adult" up and just pay the bill to leave.

Attitude reflects leadership is a saying that may apply here. If it was one person having a rough day I would understand. But to have the 3 key people in charge of setting maintaining and farewelling a customer's experience, all 3 are disconnected and disinterested in a similar manner then leadership must bear the brunt of the responsibility here.

I hope this is an isolated incident and the next customer to visit this location has a better experience than we did. Hard to say that we will ever again seek this location...

I am a regular local customer here. My family and I love it here. The pancakes are awesome, and service has always been good in the past, until Wednesday, May 1st. We decided to take my son back on his way to his Army physical. Our waitress seemed to be a bit rushed. Although the restaurant was not packed at all, her tone was a bit rude and vague. As she thre out plates down and walked away each time before dating a thing, my son and husband had cold, hard pancakes, I had yet to get my biscuits, when I hailed her down she quickly days your biscuits are coming, but I let her know about the pancakes, she takes them to the back and reheats the same pancakes! (My son had made a small mark in his) Slaps them on the table and runs away again. I finally get my visits that I try to lift with a fork. Disgustingly, they were so under cooked the door stretched. I again get up to catch her again. When I tell her, she smirks and takes them to the back. When I got those biscuits, the top had been browned, but in the middle was still like warm raw doe. Nevertheless, I could not eat any on my breakfast. The pancakes were microwave reheated and not eaten either. I am so disappointed. Especially, that I waitressed myself for over 10 years and have been in customer care for 25 years. What tops off the worst was when she brought back my receipt. She actually looked at it and laughed as she lay it on the table. By now, I was a bit upset. Thankfully, as I checked out, a manager named Jose was great at handling an apology to myself and my family. He gave did give me a voucher to come back for a free meal. I will go back, but never on a Wednesday, and if that Waitress comes to my table, I will have to be asking for a different one. I am not sure what the indifference was towards myself and my family on that specific day for her, but I an awesome tipper, and she missed out. We are all in this world nowadays working hard for any money we get. Even my family and our service and smiles should have never been treated this way. I pray for her to be able to treat all her duties...